Red Sox Notebook: Farrell playing numbers game

BOSTON — John Farrell continued his game of mix-and-match Tuesday night, trying to get five outfielders regular playing time with only three spots available.

ERIC AVIDON

BOSTON — John Farrell continued his game of mix-and-match Tuesday night, trying to get five outfielders regular playing time with only three spots available.

With the Red Sox facing Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Edwin Jackson, Farrell had left-handed hitters Brock Holt in left field and Jackie Bradley Jr. in center, but instead of the switch-hitting Daniel Nava in right it was rookie Mookie Betts, a right-handed batter.

Jonny Gomes joined Nava on the bench.

"We don't anticipate five days (per week) being too difficult to accomplish with everyone," Farrell said before Tuesday's game. "That would include where we may get some spot starts at shortstop for Brock Holt, but we'll find a way to rotate guys through there. ... We're finding ways to get guys on the field fairly regularly, and look for matchups where they may be best suited."

Betts, a natural second baseman who only started playing the outfield about a month ago, was called up to the Red Sox on Saturday after rocketing through the minor leagues. He made his first start Sunday, playing right field at Yankee Stadium, then was in center field Monday night in his Fenway debut.

With Fenway's massive right field one of the tougher outfield positions to play in all of baseball — the sharp increase in depth out from the Pesky Pole playing no small part — Betts was working with coach Arnie Beyeler on playing right field during batting practice.

As hitters rocketed balls from the batting cage, Beyeler stood just beyond first base and hit fly ball after fly ball just to the left of the right-field foul pole so Betts could practice playing the odd wall.

Yet as new as the experiences of playing the outfield in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park may be, Betts has so far said he feels comfortable making the jump from the minor leagues to the majors.

"Two games is probably a bit of a short sample, but if his first thoughts are that those are encouraging," said Farrell, "because then the game isn't speeding up on him."

Outfielder/first baseman Mike Carp, on the disabled list with a broken bone in his right foot, was scheduled to play first base and go 5-7 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket Tuesday night in his fourth rehab start.

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks, on the DL with a fractured right index finger, returned to the PawSox' lineup as the designated hitter after being shut down recently with swelling in the finger. He's taking ground balls at third base, but he's not yet playing the position in a game.

The Red Sox' initial plan with Middlebrooks was to have him start playing some left field, but that was shelved temporarily when he had to sit for five days with the recurrence of swelling.

"We're somewhat starting over," said Farrell. "At some point over the next 20 days we'd like to get some exposure there. But as we've seen with other guys, produce with the bat and we'll find a way to get you on the field defensively."

Shane Victorino, who suffered a back injury while trying to come back from a hamstring strain, has begun doing some jogging and agility drills. The hope is that he will begin another rehab assignment next week.

The Red Sox traded pitcher Rich Hill to the Angels for cash on Tuesday, and officially released pitcher Chris Capuano. ...

Brandon Workman will oppose Wood on Wednesday night.

When the Orioles come to Boston for three games beginning Friday it's expected that Jon Lester and John Lackey will start the first two games for the Red Sox against Miguel Gonzalez and Ubaldo Jiminez. Jake Peavy is slated for Sunday's game, but Baltimore hasn't announced its starter.

Eric Avidon can be reached at 508-626-3809 or eavidon@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericavidon.